Method of producting remade pictures



-Jan.fZ7, 192s. 1,524,276

' B. F.'PUFFER IETHOD OF PRODUCING REMADE PICTURES Filed Aug. 16, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOH A TTORNEYS 1,524,276 B. F. PUFFER METHOD OF PRODUCING BEMADE PICTURES Filed Aug. 16, 1921 2 sheets-sheet,- 2

. u a u Jan, 27,

a f 1 u a I I- II lll-laall-ull li! INVENTOR 8. PUP-FER A rram'rs Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

BRUCE EEANK PUFFER, or GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK.

-METHOD OF PRODUCING REMADE PICTURES.

Application filed August 16, 1921. Serial 110 492331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRUCE FRANK PUFFER, a citmen of the United States, and a resident of Garden City, Long Island, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Method of Pro-' ducing Remade Pictures, of which the following is a description.

My invention while capable of a wider use is especially applicable to the roductionof motion picture films and the escription in the main will be directed to the carrying out of the invention in connection with motion pictures.

It is well recognized that attempts at retouching, altering, or otherwise modifying motion picture films, are handicapped and greatly limited by the exceedingly small size of the images and as a consequence, pictures are exhibited whose defects are pronounced and apparent but which are impossible of being properly remedied by eliminating or modifying the undesirable factors. The general object. of my invention is to produce a motion picture film or like photographically produced medium vastly improved over those now produced and progected and to provide a method and'means available for the purpose and of such a character as to establish conditions making unfailingly for the production of a recreated film from an existing film and characterized by absolute correspondencebetween the recreated product and the original film with respect to exactness of registe and correctness of sequence but with all efects eliminated or modified.

Specifically, a most important object of my invention is to make it possible to eliminate, retouch, reduce by chemical action,-

or otherwise modify by various methods the defects in a picture that are subject to treatment as in ordinary photography, thereby freeing the motion picture films or similar small photographic media from the limitations now attending them with respect to the ossibility of correction or modification.

T e above and other objects as will appear are attained by my improved method and means involvin the forming of an enlarged reproduction of each picture in a film, employing for the purpose a sensitized photographic medium or media in the form of a long roll film, cut celluloid film, glass plates, sensiti e paper, or any other element capable of receiving and recording an enlarged image'as in the ordinary process of making enlarged photographic negatives or positlves, and in a manner to obtain identical repetition of register and position in the successive pictures whereby a picture will correspond in its enlarged state with the origlnal pictureand present a precise duplication of the image as framed through the aperture plate of an ordinary motion-picture camera. The increased visibility of the enlargedonegative or positive thus obtained afiords me the widest liberty in the retouching, etching, chemically reducing locally, or otherwise altering the image, or, I am afl'orded liberty to obtain a modified final enlargement by combining two or more de veloped and fixed films or plates bearing enlar ements of pictures of the original film, or caring enlargements of portions of two or more motion picture films, which enlarged films or plates may be superposed for reproduction to obtain a resultant composite picture; or by projecting two or more pictures or portions thereof onto the same light sensitive medium before developing; the sensitive medium being a roll film, c-ut celluloid film, glass plates, or paper as the occasion may determine.

Having thus produced the modified enlarged negatives or positives of the pictures of the original motion picture film, or equivalent related pictures, I photograph such enlargements through the medium or a motion-picture camera, reducing thereby the pictures back to the original standard or safety standard size, on a motion picture film for example, one frame or exposure at a time by stop motion, i. e. one turn of the camera crank to apicture and employing evenly transmitted and difiused light back of the enlarged negative or positive and of sufiicient intensity to properly expose each separate frame or'image onto ordinary motion picture films, or equivalentinediaior producing sequentially related pictures and under the exact conditions under which the enlargements weremade, by requiring that the photographing of the remade pictures (the negatives orpositives) he carried out without any disparity of position, having in view the position of the sensitized media in the making of the enlargements and 'the position of the improved negatives or positives when employed for the reproduction by means of a. motion-picture camera.

The stated correspondence of position is attained by making it impossible .to displace the'negatives or positives along their own plane when emplacing them for photographic reproduction (by the motion-picture camera) as compared with the original position of the sensitized media in the projection of the originals for enlargement. The result is a remade or re-created film from which the defects present in the original film are eliminated to the same degree and in the same manner as is possible in still photography wherein by retouching, etching, etc., facial imperfections, for example, are obliterated, while at the same time the remade pictures are characterized by an absolute correspondence with the original film pictures as to register, etc.; the paramount desideratum being at the same time attained that the remade film preserves to the maximum degree the artistic results obtained in the original pictures only by superior talent and the exercise of great care and skill.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of examples of instrumentalities that may be utilized in carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional side. view of a projecting machine largely conventionally shown and a fixed support infront of the same for holding a photographic medium onto which a. picture to be enlarged may be projected, the view including light-producing means at the back of the support for reproducing the enlargement photographically in the original size, the view indicating the instrumentalities referred to as utilized for projecting the original picture of the films onto a sensitized medium on the support for obtaining an enlargement;

Figure 2 is a view of the instrument-alities shown in Figure 1 but indicating the same as employed for photographically reproducing from the enlargement for the production of remade motion pictures into the size of the ori inal pictures;

igure 3 is a front view of 'the support with a celluloid cut film thereon; Figure- 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but with the sight opening in. the supportenlarged to'conform to a larger film or plate;

- Figures 5 and 6 are front views of the support as in Figure 3 but showing a man-.

nor of utilizing the same'in the taking of a plurality of pictures in succession on a large film or plate; 1

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the support for the sensitive medium and the ground glass adjacent thereto, showing a frame employed in connection therewith to clamp the sensitive medium in position;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but omitting the clam frame;

Figure 9 is a ront view the support modified for the holding of a glass plate;

Figure 10 is a vertical section on the line 1010, Figure 9.

Referring to the illustrated instrumentalities there is shown in Figure '1 a projecting machine 15-which may be of any approved form, which machine includes a source of light 16 which is adapted to direct rays through a film 17 from which a remade film is to be produced in accordance with my invention. ,The light rays passing in the usual manner through a lens 18 are projected onto a sensitized receiving medium 19, the distance between the lens 18 and the medium 19 being so gaged as to result in a reproduction appearing upon the said me- With the machine'15 arranged as a camera, the several enlarged mediums 19 are positioned in supcession and in regular sequence on the support 23, and light from source 21 is transmitted through the opening 23 in the support 23 and the enlarged medium 19 into the machine 15 and onto the sensitive film 20, the film 20 being advanced one frame or exposure at a time as new and successive enlargements are positioned on the support 23. In the photographing of the successive enlargements I have shown a source of light 21 at the back vof the support 23 and have indicated a ground glass 22 that may be interposed, if desired, for the diffusion of the light. The support 23 has a sight opening 23 and at the front of the support means is provided to hold the film or plate.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 8, pins 24 project from the face of the support 23 above and below the sight opening and the film is formed with correspondingapertures to receive the pins, the arrangement insuring that the film as removed from the support 23 for developing, fixing, and retouching, or otherwise: modifying, will, when restored to the support for photographic 1e production-on a smaller scale, i. e. reducing down to ordinary-motion icture film slze.

register exactly with its original position in its relation tothe sight opening 23 and the camera 15, and, as the successive enlargeme-nts 19 are reproduced on the film 20 in theregular order of the original motion picture film, the remade film will be produced in exact correspondence with the original film. There-is no limit'to the treatment that may be accorded the enlarged negative or positive for efiecting its better ment orchangin the pictures composition so that. the remade motion picture will have none of the defects present in the original motion picture film; and it may be altered to suit the individual taste or requirements of the producer. My invention may be particularly employed for close-ups of persons of whom it is not possible in many instances, with unretouched films as now produced owing to the presence in the features of the actors, of facial blemishes, effects of age, or the like. The invention permits of prolonging, by many years, on the screen, the careers of great dramatic artists and screen favorites, especially women, who, through the effect of time, have passed the first flush of youth and into the decadent period where faded beauty no longer at. tracts when shown too close up. In the projecting of the pictures from the original negative or positive film 17 onto the successive sensitive media 19 on the support 23, the sight opening .23 in the support- 23 is occupied by an opaque (black) filling 23 The filling 23 is removed for the passage of the light from the source 21 through opening 23*, thence through the lens 18 to the sensitive film 20. In the steps of reproducing onto the sensitive motion picture film 20, a transparent backing 23 ma be employed on support 23 at the front 0 the sightopening 23 as a backing for the enlarged negative or positive 19 to insure the flatness of said negative or positive particularly in connection with the swing frame hereinafter described.

In Figure 3 I have shown a single cut film 19 of small size on the support 23 that may be taken for example as a 4X5 while in Figure 4 the support, 23, is shown with an enlarged sight openin 23 and a correspondingly large cut film 19 which may be taken as 8X10.

In Fi ure 5 is shown the manner of obtaining our small exposures on a comparatively large film 19 by exposing one-quarter section at a time, two exposures being made in succession along a side of the film and the film then up-ended as in Figure 6 forthe taking of two more exposures. The film 19 is formed with pairsof holes 19 for each uarter section. each pair to register with te pins 24. The individual films ma have identifying'numbers, the film 19 in igure 3 being shown as bearing the numeral 1, the film in Figure 4 being numbered 1, and the films in Figures 5 and 6 as 1". It is to be understood that the films in a series of pictures will bear numbers in arithmctical succession. The usual notches A in the films serve to position the same even with the taking of a plurality of exposures as in Figures 5 and 6. The supports 23, 23', etc. are permanently fixed by any suit- .able means such as an angle bracket 23' at the base thereof.

In Figure 7 a frame 25 is shown hinged at its lower end as at 25 adjacent to the front'of the support 23 so as to be swung upwardly at the front of the support 23 against the medium 19.to prevent the possibility of forward displacement. 01' vibration of said medium, there being a sight opening 25 of proper size in said frame.

In Figure 8 the medium 19 is supported by the pins 24 alone without the use of the clamp 25.

In Figures 9 and 10 the support, 23 having a sight opening 23 is provided with an angle piece 27 at the bottomand one side of the sight opening to support a glass plate 19 and there may be a turnable spring catch 26 to engage the plate.

By the described invention it Will be seen that I am enabled to eliminate or modify all the defects now necessarily permitted to remain in motion pictures of regular or standard sizes because owing to the greatly increased visibility of the enlargements they may be treated at will in every factor thereof and at the same time the invention provides for the reproduction of the film in its essential features and with its exact register and sequence.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do notlimit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departure from thespirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims; for example, any other suitable means may be employed for positioning the successive enlargements in register with each other and in precise correpondence with the. projecting of the pictures from the originals.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. Ina method of producing remade related pictures from existing related pictures, the steps of photographically producing enlargements of the several pictures on sensitized means, occupying in succession the same position, altering said enlarged pictures to obtain a modified image, and photographically reproducing the modified enlarged pictures in their original size while the enlargements are in. the identical positionsoccupied by them in the photographic production of said enlargements.

2. In a method of producing remade related pictures from existing related pictures, the steps of hotographically producing enlargements oi the several pictures while occupying in succession the same position, altering said enlarged pictures to obtain a modification of the image, and photographically reproducing the modified enlarged pictures while the enlargements are in the identical positions occupied by them inthe photographic production of said enlargements.

3-. In a methodof producing remade related pictures, from existing related pictures, the steps of successively photographically producing enlargements, in order, of the pictures to be remade while occupying the same position; altering said enlarged pictures to obtain modified images thereof; and photographically reproducing the modified enlarged pictures in the original size of the said existing pictures in the' same order in which they were projected and While the enlargements are in the identical positions of the projected pictures in the photographic production of said enlargements.

4. In a method of producing remade pic tures from a series of related pictures, the steps of photographically producing successive enlargen'ients of the originals by projection of the same on a sensitized means; rectifying objectionable features in the enlargements; and photographically reproduoingthe rectified enlargements while in precise register as to position with the projected enlargements.

5. In a method of producing remade pic- I turesfrom a series of related pictures, the

steps of photographically producing in regular succession, enlargements of the originals by projection of the same on a sensitized means; rectifying objectionable features in the enlargements, and photographically producing remade pictures from said enlargen'ients whi'le? constraining the latter to occupy successively the same position in precise correspondence tvith the plane of. the sensitized means during the projection of the originals. 6. Ina method of producing remade pictures from a series of related pictures, the steps of 'photographically producing successive enlargements of the originals by projection of, the same on a sensitized means, rectifying objectionable features in the enlargements, and photographically reproducing the pictures in a remade series, from the enlargements in the sequence in which the corresponding pictures existed in the original series and in register with said pictures of the projected enlargements.

7 In a method of producing remade pic-- tures froma series of related pictures, the steps of photographically producing successive enlargements of the originals by projection of the same on a sensitized means, rectifying objectionable features in the enlargements, and photographically reproducing the pictures in a remade series, from the said enlargements, in the same size as as to register with the projected enlargements.- v

8. In a method of reproducing remade motion pictures, from a series of related motion pictures, the steps of photographically producing successive enlargements of the original pictures of the series by projection of the same in succession on a sensitized means altering the successive enlargements thus produced, and photographically reproducing the pictures from said enlargements in a remade series of motion pictures through a sight opening in correspondence as to area and position with the original projection of the picture in the photographic production of the said enlargements.

"9. In a method of producing a series of remade related pictures. the steps of disposing sensit ized media in succession in the same position; producing on said media while in the said position, enlargements of thepictures to be remade; modifying the enlargements entering into the remade pictures; and photographically reproducing on motion picture films from the enlargements in the positions the latter successively occupied in their. original production, by transmitting evenly diffused light through said enlargement from the back onto sensitized receiving means in a motion-picture camera in front. 1.0. In a method of producing a series of re-made related pictures, the steps of disposing sensitized media in succession in the 1 same posrt1 on, producing on said media while in the said position, enlar ements of the pictures to be remade, modifymg the enlargements entering into the remade pictures and photographically reproducing from said enlargements pictures to the original size, while said enlargements are in the position they successively occupied when produced, by directing light through said enlargements from the back onto sensitized receiving means in front.

11. In the production of a series of remade related pictures, the steps of supporting sensitized means in front of a motion-picture projecting apparatus, producing enlargements of the originals .on said sensitized means, with the aid of said projecting apparatus, modifying the enlargements; converting said projecting apparatus to funct1on-as a motion-picture camera while in the same position and directing light. through said modified enlargements from the back toa sensitized means in the motion-picture camera, while said enlargements are in precise correspondence as to register with the firstmentioned sensitive means during the pro-,

jection of the pictures to said first sensitive means.

12. In a method of producing remade related pictures, the steps of photographically the originals, and in precise correspondence producing enlargements of the pictures to be remade by projecting the same onto sensitized means; modifying the enlargements; and photographically reproducing the enlargements while in a position in exact register with said sensitized means in the projection of the pictures in obtaining the enlargements.

13. An apparatus for use in the production of remade related pictures, said apparatus including a projecting machine adapted to be arranged for functioning as a motion-picture camera, a support adapted to receive sensitized means for the photographic enlarged reproduction-of the pictures, saidprojecting machine and said support having fixed relative positions, and means for transmitting light through the reproducedpictures when on said support onto a second sensitized means in said projecting machine when arranged as a camera, for again reproducing the pictures.

14. An apparatus for use in producing remade related pictures, said apparatus including a projecting machine adapted to be arranged to function as a motion-picture camera, a support adapted to receive sensitized means for obtaining an enlarged reproduction of the pictures, said projectin machine and said support having fixed relative positions, means to coact with the project- 1ng machine when functioning as a motionpicture camera, for transmitting light through the enlargements onto the sensitized means of the motion-picture camera, and

means associated with said apparatus for in-' SHI'lIlg' the disposition of the produced en largements thereon in precise correspondence with the position of said first sensitized means for receiving the projected images of the ori 'nals.

15. 11 an a paratus for use in the production of rema e related pictures, a support in fixed position adapted to receive a sensitized medium and having an opening through which light may be caused to passfrom the rear, means on said support to unfailingly dispose successive media in the same position on said support at the front; together .with a source of light behind said support and a rojecting machine ositioned in front of the support in fixed re ation to said support and adapted to project pictures in regback, and means on the front to engage and hold the sensitized 'means as well as the modified enlargement in one and the same 'precise positionto effect exact repetition as to register.

l7. Inan apparatus for producing remade related. pictures, a support adapted to receive sensitized means for the production of enlargements, and to support the enlargements for production after modification of the pictures, said support. having an opening for the passage of light therethrough from the back, and means on the front to engage and hold the sensitized means as well as the modified enlargement in one and the same precise position to effect repetition as to register; together with a frame adapted to clamp the sensitized means or enlargements engaged by said holding means.

18. In an apparatus for producing remade related pictures, a. support adapted to receive sensitized means for the production of enlargements, and to support the enlargements for production after modification of the pictures, said support having an opening for the passage of light therethrough from the back, means on the front to engage and hold the sensitized means as well as the modified enlargement in one and the same position toeffect exact repetition as to register, and a frame adapted to clamp the sensitized means or enlargements engaged by said holding means; together with transparent material at the front of the opening in the support to constitute a backing for the sensitized means or enlargement positioned on the support.

BRUCE FRANK PUFFER. 

